Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-06-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, June 3

mitted to relapse into an uninteresting
dull condition, such as is usual upon
the departure of the President, and all
the representatives Of public and pri.
vate interests that are sure not to re-
main long, after his absence for a
length of time has been determined
upon.
The novelty of the National Drill
has served to keep alive the public in
terest in the capital, and the custo
mary May excursionist hitherward has
enjoyed an additional reduction in his
or her railroad fare-which seems to
be the great end after all to be attained
by this class of pleasure-seekers. So,
although the hotel man may have had
his grievance, yet in the more unos-
tentatious modes of entertainment,
such as the boarding house and pri-
vate house afford, quite a showing
might be made in the number of
strangers who have lately been among
us; certainly our streets have been
crowded with new faces and eager
sight-seers, and many old scores have
been settled by country cousins in the
way OF visits to city relatives, in return
for similar honors received last Sum-
mer when fruit was ripe. But not for
long, l fear me, will the account re-
main closed, for very soon the sultry
heat will send countryward the re-
naming members of the household
who have not already accompanied
their lately departed guests home.
With regard to the drill and the dis
tribution, of prizes less dissension has
resulted than was naturally to be ex-
pected where so much jealous rivalry
existed. The successful attainment of
the object of its projectors could not
be better shown than by quoting the
words of Col. Black, the President of
the Board of Judges, composed of reg
ular army officers. Said he, The
drill has proved complete success
from military standpoint, and both
those who managed it and those who
participated in it are deserving of great
credit. The different competing Or
carnations showed themselves we'll
versed in tactics, and many of them
executed the programme with remark
able success. The public was, doubt
less, surprised at some of the awards,
as some of the companies who were
rated low made the best impression
upon the spectators, but they were all
judged by strict military interpreta-
ton OF military tactics. Every move
ment was marked on a scale from zero
to ten. In each instance the marks OF
the three judges were added together
and the sum divided by three, thus
giving the average.
Among the last of the most promi-
nent men to take fright was Senator
John Sherman, against whose Presi-
dental aspirations certain indiscreet
admissions of his brother, Gen. William
Tecumseh, are taken to be direct as.
, saults. The too susceptible old war
rior has told some lady confidants that
it would be great pity not to retain
such fascinating mistress of the
White House for another term, at
least, and as the wife of the President
counts her most ardent admirers and
staunchest allies from among her own
sex, irrespective of party affiliations, il
will be easily seen that their champi.
onship in behalf of second term, ID
not one to be despised.
Some of the wise ones are endeavor.
ing to attach political significance to
the early vacation of the President
seeing in it preparation for an extra
session of Congress. They reason
that Mr.. Cleveland pursues his recrea
tions in the same earnest manner that
he does his labors that he will collec,
enough vigor in short space of time
to make himself as good as new, des
pite the calamitous forebodings of the
doctors, and that he will return thu
earlier to his self-imposed task of Civ
ing personal attention to men ant
measures, and be ready to meet thos'
high in the councils of the party, tt
discuss the extra legislation deemed t.
be needed.
With the lack of other subjects TO
discussion, the new rules for the regu
lation of promotions in the Depart
ment's will be revived
This feature of Civil Service reform
goes into operation this month, whel
its effects may be observed, whateve
may have been the object OF its pro
mulgators. Even this result will b.
difficult to reach, for those droppe,
from the public rolls are seldom hear,
from again, and then their remon
strances are but feeble, for their in
fluence has waned with the advent O
new administration. And let tn,
contrary be proclaimed as loudly a
they choOse-the boasted removal G
political pressure to influence ar
pointments to, promotions in, and re
movals from the public service, is a
far from being accomplished to-day a
it ever was. Every head of Bureau, O
Office, is importuned continually, an
persistently for place; and member
' of the Civil Service Commission them